Answering Your Michigan State Basketball Questions and Emails...

Answering Your Michigan State Basketball Questions and Emails... Hey Hondo, great article on the return of Payne. Was wondering what you think is the biggest

Answering Your Michigan State Basketball Questions and Emails...

Hey Hondo, great article on the return of Payne. Was wondering what you think is the biggest thing standing between this team and a Final Four? Kara

Great question and that one is easy: leadership. The Spartans didn’t have it from players last year and coming into the season they won’t have it either. That said, they do have chemistry. Still they need a leader. I said last year I thought Travis Trice can be that guy and I still think he can. He got hurt last year and that certainly held him back, but Coach Izzo needs him healthy and he has to create some minutes for him.

Hondo, I loved hearing Coach Izzo on the show last night. He was outstanding. Kind of a simple question, but I was reading recently and a writer talked about can Izzo handle the pressure. Is that really a concern? Brad

No.

Hondo, you asked Izzo on your show tonight about his team and how they handle the bullseye. I loved it. Can you discuss that please? Todd Brahme

Sure can Todd. This team is now officially the hunted. In 2011, the Spartans had a talented team that should have won it all. Top to bottom, they had the most talent, but they had more issues than a year’s worth of Days of Our Lives episodes. They were the biggest waste of talent in any sport that I have ever seen anywhere. MSU, college, pro, it doesn’t matter. From the players, to the managers, to the coaches, it was a fundamental disaster. They had no chemistry and even with Draymond Green they had no leaders. NIGHTMARE! This year they don’t have a leader, but they do have chemistry. They are the hunted. This team, last year when singularly focused, did some big things. They also had bad stretches when that focus wasn’t there. The test for next year’s Spartans is if they choose to approach each game like it is their last and if they have the Bobby Knight mojo. What is that? Knight famously has said, “It is not the will to win, it is the will to prepare to win.” This summer and next year will this team be so hungry that they do the little things? Absent a true leader, can the collective hunger overcome that? To me that is the biggest question. They will be the hunted every night. Are they mentally tough enough to handle that?

Hondo, in a good way, does B.J.’s injury and his struggle to get back to 100% benefit MSU because he sticks around more? Peter in Livingston County

Forgive me for being blunt Peter, but are you some kind of stupid? You are telling me that you are so concerned about MSU winning that you are looking for benefits in a young man blowing up his knee? No! There is no benefit. Is MSU fortunate to have him back? Of course, but to look at any MSU benefit when a young man who has worked hard for nearly his entire life to play basketball and seeing that almost taken away is sick and selfish. I wish Branden would have had a choice to make this year. Just like Payne. I wish every player had a choice to make, because they all dream of the NBA. To see an injury or any other traumatic event as a plus for the program is ignorant.

Hondo, I felt like I owed it to you to congratulate you on correctly picking the MSU regular season record and doing it prior to the season starting. I have never seen anyone do that before. Beth

Thank you Beth, but remember that even a broke clock is correct twice a day.

Hondo, can you please help me out? Recently, I saw reported by a MSU reporter that Michigan State was playing Kentucky in Chicago this year in what could be a #1 vs. #2 matchup. Is another game scheduled? I know they have had one scheduled already for a few years? Ryan in Saline, Michigan, the proud home of MSU long snapper Taybor Pepper.

Ryan, your devotion to team Pepper scares me. I am just kidding. He is a great kid. Yes, Michigan State vs. Kentucky this year in Chicago is not anything new. They aren’t playing a second game. This has been scheduled since mid-2010 I think. Didn’t see the report, so maybe it was a press release for tickets, but I am sure it wasn’t a report. It was already reported on December 8, 2010. Here is the original report:CLICK HERE!

Hondo, of Izzo’s two 2013 recruits, Alvin Ellis or Gavin Schilling which do you think will have the biggest impact? Brandon

Great question. I assume you mean in 2013-2014 (next year) so I say Ellis. Much easier for a smaller in size player to make an immediate impact than a big or at least a bigger player.

Hondo, I recently met you at an autograph signing. You may remember that I had you autograph a ceramic basketball. I was fascinated as I waited in line, listening to you and Derrick Nix playfully argue about the alternate uniforms. Because he loved them and you hated them. Why do you hate them and do you prefer the football alternates? Phyllis

Hi Phyllis, I do remember you and signing your ceramic basketball. I do hate them, loathe them, detest them, and any other word that implies a projectile vomiting thought process. I have utter contempt for the football ones also. I also am aware that my children agree with Derrick and that according to my son Duffy it is because, “Dad you are an old fart who thinks Penn State uniforms are cool.” I am a traditionalist. Who cares if they win, right Phyllis?

There you go everyone. Another week of your MSU Basketball Q and A in the books. Make sure to send in your questions for next week. Simply email them to SpartanNationMail@yahoo.com and put weekly Q and A Basketball in the subject line.